Farm Visit: Baba Educational Farm Tour In Simpang Ampat

Baba is selling organic vegetable once a month in our office. They also provide vege box in certain pick up points.  Last Saturday, we reached their office at Kean Beng Lee Industries at 8am before heading to the farm. The farm is 7 acres but only 3 acres are used for planting, mainly educational purpose. 

It was quite tough to stay awake for 1.5 hours in early morning to listen to sharing and watch video clips. No doubt the materials were great but i personally like to be in the farm more. We were led to the farm which are about 2 km from their office. It was one of the rainy days during the Nine Emperor God Festival. Fortunately, all of us were supplied with Baba umbrella..hehe..

Farm at a glance. This farm is mainly for educational purpose for visitors and farmers to learn organic farming. Vegetables sold by Baba are mostly not from this farm but from the farmer they train. We had chance to walk around the farm after the rain stopped.

 

帝王菜. I knows the leaves are used for cooking but never knew the plant has seeds. 

Seeds of 帝王菜. The dark color seeds can be used for planting.

So many long beans!

First time seeing long bean attached to a plant..haha

My first macro picture with insect! I know it was just an ugly fly but i am happy to capture it ....haha!!

These are Rosella flowers, the Rosella fruits are next to the flower.

Rosella plant itself can repel insects to protect vegetable. The leaves can be eaten and taste as sour as the Rosella fruits!

Cucumber plant with small yellow flowers.

Flower of Lady Fingers. So elegant!

Another side of the farm is full of Lady Finger plants.

 

四瓣豆 with small purple flowers.

 

Baby corn.

Baby Brinjal. These Brinjal were ready for harvested despite small size.

A sign in the farm showing how compost is done. They mentioned about using selective cow manure by farmer to use in compost. Very tedious. Ideally cow manure is great because cow eat grass but i think they are very hard to get.

I found organic fertilizer in the farm though. :)

Crop rotation in the farming cycle.

I quickly snap some photos when the farmer just plucked the cucumber and Brinjal from the plants. They are small. These were not for sale, i guess they were packed into the vege box as i inquired before the trip, most vege of this farm are allocated for vege box.

Papayas and cucumbers in a row.

Drinks made of Lemon Balm and sugar. Very refreshing and first time trying.

Vegetable and egg fried rice, and delicious cabbage and  佛手瓜 salad (Prepared by Jess). Yummy!!
I was very impressed on the drinks and foods prepared by the staffs as they were cooked with the organic vegetables from the farm.

Each of us had chance to choose our plant and add soil to the pot.

Yay!! I got a flower plant. Next to my plant is Stevia Rebaudiana (甜菊). The leave is very sweet and can use to replace sugar. I am counting on Yen Mei to grow this in her garden and give us baby plants next time...hehe

Sharing in the farm.

Do you know what is this? This is the White Cabbage. It was soaked into the colored water to show how the colored water is absorbed and can't wash away, just like the pesticides and herbicides. So don't need to bother to wash vegetables many many times if it is not organic.....

In summary, i enjoyed the time spent in the farm most. I got to see many types of vegetables which i had never seen their plants before. Too bad it was rainy and the soil is muddy, otherwise we would have chance to experience cleaning the weeds ....do some hard works like farmer...hehe..

This is also a fun outdoor activities for parents and kids to get away from TV and Ipad. Right?
Thanks to all the staffs from Baba whom gave us such a wonderful experience in the farm!

Office address: Kean Beng Lee Industries
No 1384, Atas Lot 841, MK-1, Jalan Tasek
14120 Simpang Ampat
Contact: Nicole Chew/ Emerald Tai
017-202 6122/ 012-410 0906
Fee: RM 5 for adult. Inclusive lunch, one plant and one vegetable to take home.
Duration:  8a-12p
Certification: SOM, Baba Insight